German submarine U-806 facts for kids

Quick facts for kids History
Nazi Germany
Name	U-806
Ordered	10 April 1941
Builder	DeSchiMAG Seebeckwerft, Bremerhaven
Yard number	364
Laid down	27 April 1943
Launched	1943
Commissioned	29 April 1944
Fate	Surrendered on 6 May 1945 Sunk as target on 21 December 1945 in position 55°44′N 8°18′W / 55.733°N 8.300°W / 55.733; -8.300 during Operation Deadlight
General characteristics
Class and type	Type IXC/40 submarine
Displacement	1,144 t (1,126 long tons) surfaced 1,257 t (1,237 long tons) submerged
Length	76.76 m (251 ft 10 in) o/a 58.75 m (192 ft 9 in) pressure hull
Beam	6.86 m (22 ft 6 in) o/a 4.44 m (14 ft 7 in) pressure hull
Height	9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draught	4.67 m (15 ft 4 in)
Installed power	2 × shafts 4,400 PS (4,340 shp; 3,236 kW) (diesels) 1,000 PS (986 shp; 735 kW) (electric)
Propulsion	2 × diesel engines 2 × double-acting electric motors
Speed	19 knots (35 km/h; 22 mph) surfaced 7.3 knots (13.5 km/h; 8.4 mph) submerged
Range	13,850 nmi (25,650 km; 15,940 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced 63 nmi (117 km; 72 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth	230 m (750 ft)
Complement	4 officers, 44 enlisted
Sensors and processing systems	FuG 200 Hohentwiel
Armament	6 × torpedo tubes (four bow, two stern) 22 × 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedoes anti-aircraft guns´
Service record
Part of:	4th U-boat Flotilla 29 April – 31 October 1944 33rd U-boat Flotilla 1 November 1944 – 6 May 1945
Identification codes:	M 17 549
Commanders:	Kptlt. Klaus Hornbostel 29 April 1944 – 6 May 1945
Operations:	1 patrol: a. 30 October 1944 – 21 February 1945 b. 25 – 27 February 1945
Victories:	1 warship sunk (672 tons) 1 merchant ship damaged (7,219 GRT)

The German submarine U-806 was a special type of submarine called a Type IXC/40 U-boat. It was built for Nazi Germany's navy, known as the Kriegsmarine, during World War II.

The order for U-806 was placed on April 10, 1941. It was built by DeSchiMAG Seebeckwerft in Bremerhaven. The submarine's main structure was started on April 27, 1943, and it was launched later that year. On April 29, 1944, U-806 officially joined the navy. Its first commander was Klaus Hornbostel.

Understanding the U-boat's Design

German Type IXC/40 submarines were a bit bigger than earlier models. U-806 weighed about 1,144 tons when it was on the surface. When it was underwater, it weighed about 1,257 tons.

The U-boat was about 76.76 meters (251 feet) long overall. Its main strong part, called the pressure hull, was 58.75 meters (192 feet) long. The submarine was 6.86 meters (22 feet) wide and 9.60 meters (31 feet) tall. It sat 4.67 meters (15 feet) deep in the water.

How U-806 Moved

U-806 had two different ways to move. On the surface, it used two powerful diesel engines. These engines gave it a total of 4,400 horsepower. When it went underwater, it switched to two electric motors. These motors provided 1,000 horsepower. The U-boat had two propellers to push it through the water.

It could travel up to 18.3 knots (about 21 miles per hour) on the surface. Underwater, its top speed was 7.3 knots (about 8.4 miles per hour). When surfaced, it could travel very far, about 13,850 nautical miles (25,650 kilometers) at a slower speed. Underwater, it could go about 63 nautical miles (117 kilometers) before needing to surface.

What U-806 Carried

This submarine could dive to a maximum depth of 230 meters (750 feet). It had a crew of 48 people, including 4 officers.

For fighting, U-806 was equipped with six torpedo tubes. Four of these were at the front (bow), and two were at the back (stern). It carried 22 torpedoes in total. It also had a 10.5 cm naval gun and various anti-aircraft guns to defend against planes.

U-806's Time in Service

After finishing its training in the Baltic Sea, U-806 joined the 33rd U-boat Flotilla on November 1, 1944. This meant it was ready for active duty.

First and Only War Patrol

U-806 left Kiel for its first and only war patrol on October 30, 1944. It sailed towards its assigned area off the coast of Canada. Along the way, it made stops in Norway.

In December 1944, while operating against a group of ships called convoy HX 327, U-806 attacked two ships.

• On December 21, it damaged a British merchant ship named Samtucky, which weighed 7,219 tons.
• On December 24, it sank a Canadian escort ship called HMCS Clayoquot, which weighed 672 tons.

An attempt to attack another Canadian escort ship, HMCS Transcona, was not successful.

End of the War and Fate

Two months later, U-806 returned to base in Germany, arriving in Flensburg on February 27, 1945. It spent the rest of the war in training.

Just before the war ended, on May 5, 1945, U-806 got stuck on a reef. It had to be pulled free by a tugboat the next day. It then sailed to Aarhus, Denmark, where it surrendered to the Allies.

On June 22, 1945, the U-boat was moved to Scotland. Finally, on December 21, 1945, as part of something called Operation Deadlight, U-806 was towed out to sea. It was then sunk by artillery fire from a Polish warship, ORP Błyskawica. This operation involved sinking many captured German U-boats.

Summary of What U-806 Attacked

Here's a quick look at the ships U-806 was involved with:

Date	Ship Name	Nationality	Tonnage	Fate
21 December 1944	Samtucky	United Kingdom	7,219	Damaged
24 December 1944	HMCS Clayoquot	Royal Canadian Navy	672	Sunk